[Falin Cosplay] Delicious in Dungeon, A Gothic Style Cosplay Fantasy Corner of My Own Design

I completed this self-styled Falin cosplay from Delicious in Dungeon last year, and only recently when organizing the photos did I seriously review the shooting details at that time. This shoot didn't follow the relatively casual, everyday feel of the original work. Instead, I discussed with the photographer and made a bold style extension, forcibly pulling the character into a scene filled with dark Gothic and vampire vibes. From the clothing conception and accessory purchasing to the wig trimming and makeup tone, every step took a lot of thought.

First, let's talk about the overall structure of the costume. For this white dress, I chose a large amount of irregular lace trim for patchwork, especially at the neckline and cuffs, which were intentionally made into an off-the-shoulder design to showcase the collarbone and shoulder-neck lines. White fluff and lightweight feathers were layered on the shoulders. This visual fluffiness counteracted the flatness that pure white fabrics might bring under strong light, giving the entire dress a three-dimensional, breathing feel. The skirt hem is a multi-layered tiered cake skirt style; the layers of ruffles and slightly puffy texture can show excellent drape and tension in both sitting and standing poses. At the waist, I interwoven several white ribbons and pearl chains, embellished with some deep red rose decorations and drooping bead strings, creating a break in the visual focus amidst the vast area of white so it wouldn't look monotonous.

For accessories, I chose a necklace made of pearls and imitation rubies. I specifically picked a richly layered style for this necklace, intertwined with red bead strings. Especially after lighting, that deep red luster can instantly pop out from the white gauze. The white lace headband matched on the head is relatively soft, with a dark red fabric rose pinned to the front, echoing the roses at the waist of the costume and also forming a perfect contrast with the cool tone of the blonde hair. Purchasing and trimming the wig also took a lot of time; the curve of the forehead bangs and the hair volume on both sides needed to be treated lightly and not heavy, so as to have a more lightweight and agile texture.

Next, let's talk about the shaping of makeup and gaze. The base makeup was intentionally made quite matte and pale, without using heavy shimmer, emphasizing a cold and sickly aesthetic. The eyeshadow used pink and purple tones for blending, which, paired with light yellow colored contact lenses, could project an ethereal and even slightly dangerous gaze in front of the lens. The lip makeup used a dark wine-red lip stain, gently applied to create a natural blood-colored look as if just undergoing some mysterious ritual. Coupled with black nail art, the dark color on each fingertip added sharp little details to the overall all-white look.

The scene layout on the day of the shoot was also highly atmospheric. A huge golden carved mirror frame and dark red walls laid the main tone of retro luxury. The warm yellow floor lamp embedded with pearl drops brought by the photographer became the most core light source in the frame, and the gauze lampshade made the light soft and gave it a sense of age. The tall wine glasses nearby, the skull on the table, the bright red apple, and that heavy brown-covered vintage book all perfectly constructed a story background of a "vampire's grand banquet."

As for the props, we specially prepared a realistic heart model and silver knives and forks. Holding the heart to take a bite or using the cutlery to make an eating posture instantly distanced the character from reality. The texture of that heart prop was very exquisitely made; with the assistance of red lighting, the moist and flesh-colored feel on the surface was extremely eye-catching. During the shoot, the photographer set up a group of reddish atmospheric lights from the side or back. This contrast of light and shadow interwoven with warm yellow and dark red allowed the details of the white clothing to be clearly seen, while also casting a mysterious and oppressive color filter over the entire frame.

Although I only realized this was a work completed last year when organizing the photos, looking back, this attempt to deconstruct the original character through my own aesthetics and integrate different styles is highly meaningful. From picking every single pearl to adjusting every part of the skirt hem, it can be said to be a very pleasant self-styled creative experience. Characters with this kind of gothic style cosplay and dark fairy tale style indeed put the choice of clothing materials and overall proportion control to the test visually. I hope the final photos this time can convey that wonderful atmosphere—both elegant and dangerous—that I wanted to express back then to everyone.